So, to start with, I'll try to explain net neutrality (as I understand it). Net neutrality is the system put in place by various laws where the Internet is free for everyone (beyond initial access charges), and ISPs must remain neutral to which sites we access. We can access which sites we want, however much we want - they aren't allowed to make some sites any slower than others, or deny access. (Although, certain providers such as Comcast and others do illegally tweak how fast our download speeds are for sites like Netflix, but that's not the issue in question at the moment.)

Mid-December, the US congress is voting to kill net neutrality, thanks to the FCC's Ajit Pai. As I understand it, if this happens, ISPs will have full control over what you view online. They'll be able to charge more or less for different things, block them entirely, make Americans have to pay extra to access sites like Netflix/Youtube/etc, or simply give them slower internet on (only) those sites unless you purchase an "upgraded Internet plan". They'll also be able to charge companies extra in order to have high-speed internet, or limit how much data a company or site can upload a month (again, unless they pay more money). In doing this, they'll be able to completely shut down sites and companies they don't like. I imagine most cable companies will shut down things like Netflix and Hulu fairly quickly, as they are major competitors.

Ajit Pai is, despite being Chairman of the FCC, in the pocket of most large cable companies, including Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner, and (especially) Verizon. This is not a change that's intended to have a positive effect on the citizens of the US, or the world at large. It's just there to make money - and the scary thing is, the majority of congressmen seem to be on board with it (as well as forcing states to comply with the federal laws and not come up with their own regarding net neutrality). The internet as we know it will come to an end, and will essentially be replaced with "Cable for Computers". The FCC is completely ignoring any and all complaints or comments from consumers.

Disclaimer: I'm just repeating what I've read in various articles, so what I've listed above may not be 100% accurate. I'm curious to see what people think of it, if they know more about it than I do.

I'm pretty sure that when many sites start losing their customers because of the changes, and subsequently have to put up new ads or invent new paid account plans to pay the bills (assuming they don't close down entirely, which I'm sure many will (particularly things ISPs don't want Americans to access, like Netflix)), people outside the US will start seeing a significant change as well. The US contributes a significant portion of people online. If you cut enough of those out of the equation I imagine there will be very, very few sites (that rely on Americans to pay their bills) that don't have to make changes to account for it.

I don't see how this could go through without the government and/or many minor companies getting toppled in a wave of rage and anger. This either does not go through, or there will be revolution levels of rebellion against the system in place.

I strongly doubt they'll do it all at once. They'll probably try to sneak it in a little at a time. They'll probably wait a few months after the vote goes through (if the vote succeeds) to start implementing anything, to give people time to cool down. It's what makes sense.

I'm pretty sure that when many sites start losing their customers because of the changes, and subsequently have to put up new ads or invent new paid account plans to pay the bills (assuming they don't close down entirely, which I'm sure many will (particularly things ISPs don't want Americans to access, like Netflix)), people outside the US will start seeing a significant change as well. The US contributes a significant portion of people online. If you cut enough of those out of the equation I imagine there will be very, very few international sites that don't have to make changes to account for it.

If they take out costs of their American customers on the EU customers, then we will switch to use something that doesn't. It's a free market and the EU has more than twice the inhabitants the US has.

The after-blast of the initial vote should be enough to cause turmoil. Most likely people will start trying to lay their own networks to the best of their ability, and/or boycott in ways we can probably hardly imagine.

This is hardcore oligarchy levels of control happening, with few wanting more money, and most wanting to keep their porn free. If nothing else, Americans seem to love their freedom to extremely unreasonable levels, which in this case should do them good, if only by enraging them as long as this goes on. That is, unless the social analytics manage to figure out how to calm them through controlled content after the vote goes through. Though that seems quite extreme, if entirely possible.